Riverpigs season ends after heartbreaking wild card loss to Plattsburgh

by Rich Rosentreter

It was a good run but it’s over! Fans will have to wait until next year to see their hometown team play ball again. The Tupper Lake Riverpigs on August 4 dropped a one-game wild card playoff game 7-6 to the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds.

The game was a see-saw battle in which Tupper Lake fell behind and tied the game twice before falling behind again and making a final valiant comeback effort that fell just fell short as the tying and winning runs were in scoring position when the last out was made and the quest for a championship ended.

Edward Salcedo was the star of the game for the Riverpigs going 5 for 5 including a double and three RBIs - but it wasn’t enough.

The Thunderbirds got going in the first inning with a run to take the 1-0 lead and from there, the Riverpigs were constantly fighting their way back. They did so in the bottom of the third. Khalyd Cox led off with a single and after Robert Antunez flied out to deep left, Salcedo got his second hit, narrowly missing a home run by inches, as the ball careened off the fence - Cox, who was running on the pitch, scored all the way from first, but Salcedo was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a double.

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Thunderbirds threatened as Tupper Lake’s starting pitcher Sungmin Choi lost the strike zone after giving up a double to Liam McArthur. Choi walked two batters to load the bases with two outs. Malvin Matos got a big hit for Plattsburgh to score two runs and give the Thunderbirds a 3-1 edge.

In the home fifth, the Riverpigs showed the grit they’ve demonstrated all season by fighting right back. Jose Zacarias ripped the ball down the third-base line for a leadoff single and Cox hit into a fielder’s choice putting a runner in scoring position - then Salcedo struck again as his crushed a double to score Zacarias. John Lantigua, who was with the New Hampshire Wild all season but was claimed by Tupper Lake in the end-of-season player draft, smacked a huge single to drive home Salcedo and knot the score at 3-3 as the home fans went wild.

The crowd’s frenzy would be quieted in the top of the seventh, however, when a leadoff walk and error on a sacrifice attempt was followed by a three-run homer by Alex Rodriguez (not the former Yankee) to give the Thunderbirds a 6-3 lead - and a silent, stunned crowd that filled Municipal Park.

Still, the Riverpigs would not go down without a fight. Down three runs and time running out in the bottom of the eighth, Salcedo rose to the occasion with a leadoff single. After a walk by Yordi Francisco, who was also claimed from the Wild, and a single by Miguel Molina all the pressure was on Drew Thomas as the bases were now loaded with two outs - he banged a clutch single to drive home two runs and narrow the score to 6-5 and again the home crowd was loud and boisterous.

In the top of the ninth, Plattsburgh scored their biggest tally of the season as Tupper Lake pitcher Daniel Rojas surrendered a run to give the Thunderbirds what would be a crucial insurance run.

The Riverpgis came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, down 7-5 and the season on the line - and would not go down quietly. Khalyd Cox led off with a four-pitch walk and promptly stole second. After Antunez uncharacteristically failed in a big moment and struck out, Salcedo once again stood tall - ripping a single to score Cox and make the score 7-6.

There would be no storybook ending, however, as Lantigua grounded out to second and Francisco struck out looking at a close pitch on a 3-2 count - and the season was over for the Riverpigs.

As the Tupper Lake players walked off the field dejected, the home base of fans quickly acknowledged the Riverpigs' effort all season and erupted in a loud chant of “THANK YOU RIVERPIGS!!!”

Aftermath

After Riverpigs Manager Jonathan Albaladejo addressed the team in the outfield grass, players spoke to the Free Press about the loss and the season and the manager said he was pleased with the fight.

“I liked it. It was a great game,” he told the Free Press. “We came back, and came back again. They showed a lot of heart, it was a great game, I’m very proud of them. We were in first most of the season, then we had a rough stretch and it hurt us, that’s how we wound up in this game with this result.”

Several of the Riverpigs shared their dejection over losing, but some still relished in the success of the season - and were uplifted by the fans chants at the end of the game.

“It was a really tough loss, especially because we had such a good start to the season,” Joey Skov said.

“We were coming off a really hot start and we got a little cold. I think we were finding our way back these last few weeks and allow could ask for was a hard-fought game and I honestly think that we put it all out there it obviously wasn’t the result we wanted, we wanted to try to win it all. I’m glad everybody put their heart into it in the last game we played,” Drew Thomas said.

“It was a really tough game and it wasn’t a great way to end the season,” Miguel Molina said. “It didn’t happen like we wanted, but we’ll be fine next year,”

“We came here to win and get to the finals and I played hard and think I did my best,” said a dejected Edward Salcedo, who tried hard to carry the team with his bat. “It was a tremendous season, I feel like that is what I need, to continue to play baseball to keep in shape. It was a good season because it’s a developmental league and everybody had a chance to get better to the next level. I think I need to make a few adjustments to get to the next level, so we’ll see what happens.”

Ronald Krsolovic told the Free Press that he truly appreciated the crowd’s final chants.

“It was awesome. I’m glad that they did. It definitely made us feel a little better, I just wish we could have won it for them,” he said. “They cared a lot about we cared a lot too, but that’s the way it goes. Hopefully next year!”

More work

Before the players left the field to start making plans to travel home, Eddie Gonzalez, the president and director of the Empire Baseball League, huddled the players together to give them “a message he gives to all the players at the end of the season.”

“Just because the season comes to an end, it doesn’t mean the goals do. In this league we focus on preparing guys for the next level, so when the season ends, they go home, rest a little bit, get some time with family, but right after that we get back to work with our programs to improve,” Mr. Gonzalez told the Free Press after the game. “This is all year round, we keep going. We prepare for winter leagues that happen internationally - Valenzuela, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, it helps them prepare for the season and be scouted - so these guys go home for a break but start training in November. We start putting a plan in place for all of this, so in our close-out meeting, we talk about when to look forward to getting back to work and planning what we’re going to do next.”

Mr. Gonzalez was also impressed and appreciative of the fans chanting their support after the season ended for the Riverpigs.

“It’s great to know that we are appreciated, not just for providing some good family entertainment of baseball, but we’re doing such a positive influential thing for the players and the community. For the players, we’re helping them achieve their pro baseball goals, for the community we’re providing great entertainment, a great family environment, we’re making an impact socially and economically,” he said. “I hope the community loves and appreciates us just as much as we love and appreciate them.”